3 reasons why Zach Edey won't be a lottery pick in 2024 NBA draft

Zach Edey is among the draft prospects that have drawn much attention ahead of the 2024 NBA draft on Wednesday. After testing the draft waters last season, Edey is back, having wrapped a record-breaking senior season with the Purdue Boilermakers.

The 7-foot-4 center is a projected No. 15- No. 25 pick in most mock drafts. While there was speculation about Edey being a lottery pick, it is now believed that he does not fall under the category. Here are a few reasons why:

Three reasons why Zach Edey won't be a lottery pick in 2024 NBA draft

#1 Better prospects

Ahead of Zach Edey on the draft pick order are big men Alex Sarr (No. 2 per ESPN) and Donovan Clingan (No. 3 per ESPN). They are much more versatile players who can contribute across the court when compared to Edey.

"Clingan's defensive range, his ability to cover ground, is more attractive in today's NBA," an NBA executive said to ESPN's Jeremy Woo. "His ability to get up more and also recover is much better than Edey, and at a younger age."

Additionally, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman wrote in his report:

"Edey likely won't go earlier in the draft because it's easier to justify adding Edey for a second-unit role to start his career rather than using a lottery pick on him."

#2 Restricted playing style

Throughout his college career, Zach Edey established himself as a true-post player. This kind of playing style is not suitable for this current "positionless" era of basketball in the league. With three-point shooting taking over, Edey's role as a post player is irrelevant to any team.

Moreover, Edey averaged just 1.7 blocks at Purdue in four years. His insufficient defensive skills further restrict his contributions on the court and consequently, his role in the roster.

#3 Not enough upside

Considering his unchanged playing style through his college years, there is not enough upside for Zach Edey to be a lottery pick. College analyst John Fanta explained via Fox Sports:

"I do think in this class, Edey is a top 20-25 pick, but I'll say he falls just out of the lottery.

"Edey is a generational college player and a tremendous story, but I think he falls outside the lottery because teams bet high on upside earlier in the draft, and he is going to be a guy who's likely coming off the bench for 10 to 15 minutes per game."

Do you think Zach Edey is a lottery pick? Let us know in the comments section below.